Welcome to the blog and events diary for Great River T’ai Chi and The T’ai Chi Centre. Click on the profile of Caroline Ross for more about us and our approach. Classes run regularly in Aberdeenshire, Tooting, London, Hampton Court and occasionally Gothenburg, Sweden. 121 study and group sessions are available. We organise regular workshops with Master Mark Raudva in London and Aberdeenshire and I teach bespoke sessions in schools, businesses and other organisations.

30 January 2019

Raising the Spirit

Here we are, a few weeks later than I'd hoped, some notes from a wonderful conversation with everyone around the table last Aberdeenshire teaching trip, and also the bones of what I taught, beyond the physical T'ai Chi, last time. This is not a serious essay, nor a prescription to set the world to rights, but it may help if you are down, in the way chocolate, a beautiful sunset, or finding a fiver in your pocket also helps.

Winter comes, to the higher latitudes, and sometimes the spirit sinks.
This is entirely normal, and a certain slowing down must occur, if we are in any way in sync with the natural world. But the mood and can drop, the heart grow a little cold, and the spirit can be dampened. This is not so good. I could say: 'Just do daily T'ai Chi practice'. Aha, good idea, you answer, but it ain't gonna happen as I am already stuck on the sofa. So, what are the things that have been dampening our spirit? Looking at both traditional Taoist sources, and modern experience of life, here's a little list.

You could probably add a million more, but these were the main ones we discussed. External influences are all lumped together for good reason, they'll be different for everyone, in every context, so can't be enumerated. For instance, one could list 'patriarchy', ''colonialism', 'mass extinction' or 'poverty', and these would all fit nicely, you get the idea. By the way, these are sometimes denied by the just 'think positive' brigade. Great! How's thinking positive making all of these real things any less oppressive for those on the actual sharp end of them? Not encouraging negative thoughts is indeed good mental hygiene. But saying everything is a mental creation is a delusion. Awful things do actually happen, in the real world, and sometimes correct anger at these things can lead us to right action, rather than wishful thinking, and the habit of always looking away from what we find difficult or distasteful.

There is a way through, to raise the spirit and to regain one's centre-line. Here are some enliveners:

Humour
Freedom from all of the above listed items!
Stretching or challenging oneself a bit, in activity, not too much, but significantly
Hobbies
The right company
Reaching beyond oneself, helping out, being charitable, volunteering
Daylight
Time in nature
T'ai Chi and Chi Kung
Physical activity: singing, dancing, walking, intimacy, etc
Being around beloved creatures, whether pets or wild beings
Conviviality and connection
Learning a new skill or developing an old one
Not dwelling on oneself
Noticing the good

Again, everyone will have their own list, but these came up with the group. Why do I have 'taking oneself too seriously' and 'humour' as top of their respective lists? I have noticed, after many years of teaching, that the very first sign of the blues, and a depressed spirit, is how very SERIOUS and IMPORTANT all one's thoughts are. There are many cures for this: having a laugh, especially at oneself, reading or watching something that always makes you chuckle, deliberately courting foolishness, taking the mick out of oneself, asking for a very big hug from a friend, time with swans / cygnets / kittens / puppies (delete as appropriate), playing games, yes actual board / card / or social games, singing loudly along with favourite music while dancing, even. All this will feel like pulling teeth to the serious person who is down because the world is so awful, and surely no one has any right to ever feel ok again... 'It's black, it's black, you throw me in the pit and feed me scraps...'

So the Fast Show used to sort me out, and the RAF airmen speaking modern slang from Armstrong and Miller. Or very good Sci Fi TV. Or writing to friends and sending little gifts. And have I mentioned swans?

Or going to T'ai Chi class.
Just saying...

Thanks to Davina for the prompt to get this written. I am off to drink a glass of cava. Have a good evening.

Tooting & Hampton Court T'ai Chi Classes

Hampton Court: Studio 10 mins walk from station. Next class 4th March 2019. This is a Short Form Study Class is a small group class open to all GR and TCC students as well as anyone who has done at least a few months of T'ai Chi before, or who has studied Cheng Man-Ch'ing Style. We do warm ups, Form and applications, and study a new posture or two in depth each week. Classes are held every other or every few Monday evenings 7-9pm, £10 per session, next class is arranged at each lesson with those who attend, and is displayed on the blog. Get in touch if you would like to come along, or to check suitability.

The T'ai Chi Centre Summer intensive 2019

My Art Website

The T'ai Chi Centre 14th Annual Weeklong Intensive 2019 details

The 13th Annual event took place in July 2018. Here are the details.The 14th Annual Intensive dates are 20th-26th July 2019, but all other details are the same as last year: price, timings, instructions and Friday warm up event. More details to follow in Spring 2019.

2018 - 2019 Workshop and event dates

Heartwork 16/12/18 Hampton Court 2-5pm £20

2019 workshop dates are on the blog: put 'workshops' in the search box.

If you and some fellow students would like to do a particular topic as a study group or workshop, get in touch with Caro to arrange.

Monday Short Form class at HC with Caro 17/12/18, 7-9pm, £10.

Considering coming along?

Beginners and those with some experience can start with my teacher Mark Raudva in South London, full details at www.thetaichicentre.co.uk. New students are also welcome in Aberdeenshire at Kintore, Turriff, Monymusk, Culter and elsewhere. 121s are always available at all venues for those eager to start between terms, or who wish to study privately. Weapons forms, San Shou (The Dance) and other advanced T'ai Chi Ch'uan studies are by personal application, see my main website for further information or just get in touch. caroline at greatrivertaichi dot co uk